There are 122 diplomatic missions in Hong Kong, of which 61 are consulates-general and 61 are consulates (including those represented by honorary consuls, denoted by ‡) and six officially recognised bodies in Hong Kong.[1] As Hong Kong has the status of a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, some consuls-general in Hong Kong report directly to their respective foreign ministries, rather than to their Embassies in Beijing.
Of these, 55 consulates-general and seven honorary consulates are also accredited to Macau (denoted by †). There are 10 honorary consulates in Macau, of which two are subordinate to the consulates-general in Hong Kong.[2]
Special status of Hong Kong
Hong Kong has the status of a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, and some consuls-general in Hong Kong have the rank of Ambassador, including:
Thomas Gnocchi, the current Head of the Office of the European Union to Hong Kong and Macao, also serves as the Deputy Head of the EEAS Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Division.[10]
Another feature of some consuls-general in Hong Kong is that they report directly to their respective foreign ministries, rather than to their Embassies in Beijing, such as those of the following countries:
Various consulates general are accredited to both Hong Kong and Macau. The Philippines operates consulates in both territories, and Portugal serves Hong Kong through its Macau consulate. Several consulates serving both Hong Kong and Macau indicate both territories in their official names, while others do not. In 2018 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China requested that consulates indicate only one of the territories in their official names even if they serve both territories; it did not send this request to the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao.[14]
However, the United Kingdom's commercial interests were represented by the British Trade Commission.[16] The last Senior Trade Commissioner, Francis Cornish, became the first British Consul-General following the transfer of sovereignty to China, on July 1, 1997.[17]
During the negotiations between Britain and China on the future of Hong Kong, the British proposed the establishment of a "British Commissioner" following the transfer of sovereignty to China, which the Chinese rejected as an attempt to make the future Hong Kong Special Administrative Region into a member or associated member of the Commonwealth.[18]
As Hong Kong was a Colony (later Dependent Territory) of a Commonwealth country, some Commonwealth countries were represented by Commissions before the handover including:
After the transfer of sovereignty, they were renamed Consulates-General.[27] Similarly, the title of the head of mission was also changed, from Commissioner to Consul-General.[28] However, the Australian Commission had been renamed the Consulate-General in 1986.[29]
Although South Africa rejoined the Commonwealth in 1994, and its Embassies in Commonwealth countries were renamed High Commissions, the name of the South African Consulate General in Hong Kong remained unchanged.[30] Similarly, while Pakistan had rejoined the Commonwealth in 1989, the name of the Pakistan Consulate General in Hong Kong also remained unchanged.[31]
At the time of the transfer of sovereignty on 1 July 1997, South Africa did not have diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, as it had not yet transferred recognition from Taiwan.[32] However, it was able to maintain its Consulate-General for an interim six-month period, until relations with Beijing were established on 1 January 1998.[33]
Other countries which had chosen to maintain diplomatic relations with Taipei closed their consulates in Hong Kong prior to the transfer of sovereignty, such as Paraguay, which closed its consulate on May 11, 1997.[34] Earlier, it had considered relocating to Macau, which was then still under Portuguese administration.[35] The Central African Republic, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic also closed their consulates, while Liberia, with which China had broken off diplomatic relations in September 1997, was forced to close its consulate a month later.[36] However, it later restored diplomatic relations with Beijing in 2003.[37]
As a result of the transfer of sovereignty, North Korea, which had not been allowed to establish a trade mission in Hong Kong during British rule, was able to open a Consulate-General in February 2000.[38] Similarly, Iran was also able to re-establish its Consulate-General,[when?] giving rise to concerns that the country could gain access to arms smuggled through Hong Kong, a free port.[39] This had been closed by the British Government in 1989 following the Rushdie Affair.[40]
Bhutan, which did not have diplomatic relations with either Beijing or Taipei at the time of the transfer of sovereignty, was able to maintain an honorary consulate in Hong Kong, accredited to Macau.[41][42]
The following countries, which have diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, do not presently have representation in Hong Kong, but have proposed establishing consulates:
^"Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on April 16, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2007.
^Macao Government Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
^Chief Secretary for Administration's speech at HKTDC luncheon in Brazil, Hong Kong Government, May 22, 2000
^Consulate-General of Japan
^"Consulate General of the Philippines". Archived from the original on April 18, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
^Clifford A. Hart - Consul General to Hong Kong and Macau
^German Consulate General, Hong Kong Curriculum Vitae, Nikolaus Graf Lambsdorff Archived January 9, 2014, at the Wayback Machine [1] [2] Archived August 6, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
^Christopher J. Marut Appointed as Director of the Taipei Office of the American Institute in Taiwan, American Institute in Taiwan, May 8, 2012
^Cheng, Kris (August 2, 2018). "China asks consulates in Hong Kong to remove 'Macau' from their official names". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
^Hong Kong's New Constitutional Order: The Resumption of Chinese Sovereignty and the Basic Law, Yash Ghai, Hong Kong University Press, 1997, page 167
^Hunting with the Tigers: Doing Business with Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, Claudia Cragg, Pfeiffer & Company, 1993, page 417
^Chief Executive holds 'useful, cordial' talks with British Prime Minister, Government of Hong Kong, October 22, 1997
^North Korea's Macau-based trading venture opens its doors to deny reports of espionage and shady deals, South China Morning Post, 3 September 2000
^Iran: The Failure of Economic Incentives and Disincentives, Gitty M. Amini, in The New Great Power Coalition: Toward a World Concert of Nations, Richard N. Rosecrance
Rowman & Littlefield, 2001, page 149
^The Rushdie File, Lisa Appignanesi, Sara Maitland
Syracuse University Press, 1990, page 120
^ a bBhutan: Cautiously Cultivated Positive Perception, Caroline Brassard in A Resurgent China: South Asian Perspectives, S. D. Muni, Tan Tai Yong, page 74
^"Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Bodies".
^"Albania – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
^Consulado General de la Republica Argentina en Hong Kong
^Australian Consulate-General Hong Kong
^Österreichische Generalkonsulat Hongkong
^Honorary Consulate of the Kingdom of Bahrain in HKSAR
^"Consulate General of Bangladesh, Hong Kong". Archived from the original on December 29, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
^Barbados – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives
^"Belarusian President makes new appointments". Presidency of Belarus. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
^Consulate-General of Belgium in Hong Kong and Macau
^Bhutan – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives https://www.protocol.gov.hk/en/consular_detail.html?id=72
^"Botswana – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
^Consulado Geral do Brasil em Hong Kong
^"Brunei Darussalam – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
^"Burundi – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on June 7, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
^Royal Consulate General of Cambodia, Hong Kong, P.R China
^Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao
^"Consulado General de Chile en Hong Kong". Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
^Consulado de Colombia en Hong Kong
^"Honorary Consul of the Republic of Cyprus at Hong Kong". Archived from the original on April 5, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
^"Djibouti – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
^Consulate General of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Hong Kong Archived April 11, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
^"Equatorial Guinea – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
^"Eritrea – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on June 7, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
^Estonian Honorary Consul in Hong Kong, Estonian Embassy in China
^"Ethiopia – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on September 21, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
^"Fiji – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
^Consulate General of Finland in Hong Kong
^Consulat Général de France à Hong Kong et Macao
^German Consulate General, Hong Kong
^Grenada Honorary Consulate in Hong Kong
^Consulate General of Hungary in Hong Kong and Macao Archived April 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
^Consulate General of India in Hong Kong
^Konsulat Jenderal Republik Indonesia di Hong Kong
^"Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hong Kong". Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
^Irish Consulate General Hong Kong
^Consulate General of Israel in Hong Kong and Macau
^Consolato generale d'Italia a Hong Kong
^Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong
^The Honorary Consulate of The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Hong Kong SAR
^Consulate General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Hong Kong and Macau Archived June 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
^"Kenya – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
^"Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Hong Kong". Archived from the original on April 13, 2008. Retrieved March 25, 2008.
^"Consulate of Kuwait - Hong Kong". Archived from the original on April 17, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
^Consulate General of the Lao PDR
^Honorary Consuls - Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in the People's Republic of China
^"Lesotho – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
^"Liechtenstein – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on June 7, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
^"Lithuania – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
^"Madagascar – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on November 4, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
^"Consulate General of Malaysia in Hong Kong". Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
^Consulate of Maldives in Hong Kong
^"Mauritius – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on June 7, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
^Consulate General of Mexico in Hong Kong and Macao
^"Micronesia – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
^"Monaco – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
^"Mongolia – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
^"Mozambique – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on June 7, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
^"Consulate of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar in Hong Kong and Macau SAR". Archived from the original on February 21, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
^"Namibia – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
^Consulate General of Nepal, Hong Kong Archived April 10, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
^"Netherlands Consulate General in Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR China". Archived from the original on June 21, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
^New Zealand Consulate-General, Wanchai, Hong Kong
^"Niger – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
^Consulate General of Nigeria Hong Kong
^"Royal Norwegian Consulate General in Hong Kong". Archived from the original on March 10, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
^"Oman – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
^"Pakistan Consulate Hong Kong". Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
^Consul de Perú en Hong Kong Archived November 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
^"Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong SAR". Archived from the original on July 10, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
^Konsulat Generalny Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej w Hongkongu Archived April 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
^"Consulate General of The State of Qatar in Hong Kong". Archived from the original on April 3, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
^"CONSULATUL GENERAL AL ROMÂNIEI în R.A.S. Hong Kong şi R.A.S Macao". Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
^"Consulate General of the Russian Federation in the Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR, PRC". Archived from the original on February 4, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2007.
^"Samoa – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on November 4, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
^"San Marino – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
^Royal Consulate General of Saudi Arabia
^"Consulate of the Republic of Seychelles in Hong Kong & Macau". Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
^Consulate-General of the Republic of Singapore in Hong Kong
^South African Consulate-General
^"Consulate General of Spain in Hong Kong". Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
^"Consulate General of Sweden in Hong Kong and Macau". Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
^Consulate General of Switzerland in Hong Kong
^"Royal Thai Consulate-General". Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2007.
^Turkish Consulate General in Hong Kong
^British Consulate General Hong Kong
^"Consulate General of the United States of America Hong Kong and Macau". Archived from the original on April 18, 2006. Retrieved June 21, 2007.
^"Uruguay – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
^"Vanuatu". Protocol Division Government Secretariat. Archived from the original on April 14, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
^"Consulado General de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela en Hong Kong". Archived from the original on February 24, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
^Consulate General of Vietnam in Hong Kong SAR, China Archived March 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
^"Yemen – Protocol Division Government Secretariat – Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives". Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
^"European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao". Archived from the original on February 4, 2010. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
^"Consulado de Angola em Hong Kong vai fechar" (in Portuguese). Plataforma Media. October 26, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
^"Consulate General of the Republic of Angola in Hong Kong". Archived from the original on December 17, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
^ a bExternal Relations Consulates in Macao
^Honorary Consul of Benin in the Hong Kong Special Administration of the People's Republic of China (Termination of Appointment) 29 December 2006
^Closure of the Consulate General of the Republic of Cape Verde in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
^Honorary Consul of the Central African Republic in the Hong Kong Special Administration of the People's Republic of China (Termination of Appointment) 24 May 2006
^Honorary Consul of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the Hong Kong Special Administration of the People's Republic of China (Termination of Appointment) 25 August 2009
^Honorary Consul of the Gabonese Republic in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China 15 November 2013
^Honorary Consul of the Republic of Ghana in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China 31 October 2013
^Closure of the Consulate of the Republic of Kiribati in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
^McCurry, Justin (November 10, 2023). "Kim Jong-un closes slate of North Korea's embassies as sanctions bite". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
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^Honorary Consul of the Republic of Togo in the Hong Kong Special Administration of the People's Republic of China (Termination of Appointment) 13 January 2007
^Honorary Consul of Ukraine in the Hong Kong Special Administration of the People's Republic of China (Termination of Appointment) 12 March 2007
^"Presidencia de la República Oriental del Uruguay – Secretaría de Prensa y Difusión" (in Spanish).
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^Hong Kong $ Directory, Local Printing Press, 1987, page 948
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^The meetings of the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong Archived November 7, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Armenia
^Ambassador Meets Mr. Kin-Chung Lam, Nominated Honorary Consul of Timor-Leste to Hong Kong and Macau Archived November 7, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, Embassy of Timor Leste, May 10, 2013